Hardwood block flooring



f 622 103 March 22 1927. J' o' FULTON n y HARDWOOD BLOCK FLOORING Filed Sent. 2. 1926 INVENTOR Patented Mar. 22, 1927.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES ORB, FULTON, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO THE JOHN C.

KTNG: LUMBER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION F OHIO HARDWOOD BLOCK FLOORING'.

Application led September 2, 1926. Serial No. 133,150. i

This invention relates to a flooring .con1- posed of a plurality of blocks which may be of wood or other suitable material.

The object of the invention is to provide 5 a block flooring in which each block will be firmly retained in its place by adjacent blocks.

Another object is toprovide a flooring in which at least two edges of each block will l0 be kept from upward movement by adjoining blocks.

Another object is to provide a Hooring which may be readily laid.

Another object is to provide a flooring -in which the blocks may be readily and economically manufactured.

Another object is to provide flooring blocks which will, vwhen laid, not necessitate the `use ofkeys, pins, or other pieces to retain the blocks in position.

Another object .is to .provide a iiooring composed of interlocking blocks, the lower surfaces of which engage the flooring base throughout substantially its entire extent.

Other objects will hereinafter appear.

The invention will be better understood from the description of one practical embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a plan view of a section of Hoor composed of blocks embodying the'present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof 0n the line 11-11 ofF ig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4f and 5 are, respectively, plan, side and elevational views of one of the forms of blocks used in the flooring;

.y Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are, respectively, views similar to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the other form 40 of blocks; and

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but' showing a modified form ofjoint.

The block flooring is laid upon a suitable base or sub-flooring 1 and held thereto by an adhesive or cement 2. The. blocks are illustrated as of rectangular shape-and arranged in zig-zag or herring bone design, in which the ends of each block abut the sides of other blocks adjacent their ends. In the flooring illustrated, two shapes of blocks 3 and 4 are'used. Those, 3, slanting upwardly and to the right in the plan, are hereinafter referred to as right hand blocks, and are illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, Those, 4, extending upwardly and to the left in Fig. l are hereinafter referred to as left hand blocks and are illustrated in Figs. 6,- 7 and 8.'

As shown in Figs. `3 to 5, each right hand block consists of a rectangular top 5.and a b ottom 6 parallel thereto and of. substantially the same length and breadth but ofi'- set to the left and downwardly, as illustrated in the plan, from the top.

Along the side edges of the bottom, grooves 7 are provided so lthat there will be a slight space between ,the edges of adjacent blocks at their bottoms, into which the adhesive material, by which they are secured to their base, may How. The ends and sides of the block are plain surfaces, oblique to the top and bottom and, as illustrated, each; form an angle of about 70 therewith, and it will be noted when the block is placed with its longest dimension extending upwardly, and

`one side 8- projecting from under thetop to the' left, the lower end'9 also projects beyond the top, and the upper end 10 and right hand side 11 recede under the top by the same amount.

The block illustrated in Figs. 6 to 8 is substantially the same as thatjust described except that the arrangement of projecting sides and ends is reversed, so that when the block is viewed in plan, with the left hand side 8a projecting beyond the top, the upper end 10a also projects therebeyond, and the lower end 9a and right hand side 11ZL recede thereunder.

With blocks madeas described, a pattern of zig-zag or herring bone design may readily be laid, all right hand blocks extending in one direction and all left hand blocks `in a direction perpendicular thereto, as shown in Fig. 1. and the projecting side and end of each block will t against the receding side and ends of three adjacent blocks, and be firmly held therebeneath.

Each block is sufficiently rigid not to bend or warp and by being held 'along two sides 1M is iirmly held in place by the overlying parts of adjacent blocks, so that no securing means, other-than the adjacent blocks and the ad# hesive between the block and base, are necessary. By' eliminating the necessity for 105 separate keys or the like to join the blocks, the expense of both manufacturing and laying the tloor is materially reduce As the base of the blocks is theV same area as their tops, with the exception o f grooves 119 5, and as these grooves can be made as small as desired, the blocks transmit any pressure imposed upon them to their base throughout the maximum bearing area. The space into which the adhesive material may How may be made as small as desired, so that while allowing for the iiowing of an excess of this lmaterial, no large amount thereof will be ing wasted.

Obviously, my invention is applicable to other floor coverings than those composed of` wooden blocks, for instance, to coverings of such materials as ceramic or rubber tiles, or it may be used to cover walls or other surfaces. Also the blocks need not be rectangular'in shape but may be in the form of oblique parallelograms or any other desired form.

The iinished flooring presents a pleasing appearance such as has heretofore been posslble only with elaborately jointed blocks, manufactured and laid withv excessive labor at great expense.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a joint at 12 between two blocks, in which the side and end surfaces, instead of being oblique, are cut in the form of a step. `As in the form above described, the base of the block projects beyond its top along one side and end and recedes thereunder to the same extent along the others, the projecting side and end of one block engaging and tting beneath the receding side and ends of others.

While I have described the illustrated embodiments of my invention in some particularity, obviously many variations thereof will occur to those skilled in the art to which it appertains, and I do not, therefore, limit myself to the specific details shown and described, but claim as my invention all embodiments, variations and modifications thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims. I

I claim:

1. A flooring comprising a plurality of blocks, each having an elongated rectangular top and base of substantially the same dimensions, the base projecting beyond the top along one side and one end and receding under the other side and end, the relative arrangement of sides and ends beyond which the base projects being reversed in some of the blocks to that in the others.

2. A iooring comprising a plurality of blocks, each having an elongated rectangular top and base of substantially the same dimensions, the base projecting beyond the top along one side and one end'and receding under the other side and end, the 'relative arrangement of sides and ends beyond which thebase projects being reversed in some oli the-blocks to that in -t e others, the projectortions of the base underlying and being eld in place by the projecting portions of the tops Y ofthree .adjacent blocks.

3. A iooring comprising a plurality of blocks, each having a rectangular top and base of substantially the same dimensions, the base projecting beyond the top along one side and one end and receding under the other side and end, the relative arrangement of sides and ends beyond which the base projects being reversed in some of the blocks 'to that of the others.

4. A iiooring comprising two series of blocks laid in parallel rows, the blocks of one series being parallel to each other and oblique to the rows, the blocks of the other series being parallel to each other and oblique to the rows and angularly disposed to the blocks of the first series and each block having Aits base projecting beyond its top along one side and one end, the relative arrangement of the projecting sides and ends of the blocks of one series being the reverse of said arrangement in the other series, the sides and ends being plane throughout substantially their entire height, the projecting portions'extending beneath the tops of and retained in place by adjacent blocks. Y

5. A flooring comprising two series of blocks laid in parallel rows, the blocks of one series beng parallel to each other and oblique to the rows, the blocks of the other series being parallel to each other and obli ue to the rows and angularly disposed to t e blocks of the first series, land each block having its base projecting beyond` the top along one side and one end, the relative arrangement of the projecting sides and ends of the blocks of onel series being the reverse of said arrangement lin the other series, the projecting portions extending beneath the tops of and retained in place by adjacent blocks, each block having grooves at the side edges of its base, and adhesive securing the blocks to aA supporting base and entering said grooves.

6. A flooring comprising two series of blocks laid in parallel rows, the blocks of one series being parallel to each other and oblique to the rows, the blocks of the other series being parallel to each other and oblique to the rows 'and angularly disposed to the blocks of the first series and each block having its base projecting beyond its top along one side and. one end, the projecting side being retained beneath the receding side of one block of the same series and the receding ends of the block of the other series and the projecting. end being retained beneath the receding side of a block of the other series. Y.

7. A ooring comprising two series of blocks laid in parallel rows, a base support ing the blocks an adhesive between the blocks and the base, the blocks of one series being parallel to each other and oblique to the rows, the blocks of the other series being parallel to each other and angularly disend in the other series, the projecting porposed t0 the blocks of the first series and tions extending beneath the tops of and each block having its base projecting beyond solely retained in place by Aadjacenhblocks 10 its `top along one side and one end, the rel'aand by the adhesive.

5 tive arrangement of the projecting sides and In testimony whereof I hereunto aix my ends of each block of one series being the signature this 3l day of August, 1926. reverse of the arrangement of said side and JAMES ORR FULTON. 

